O, let my land be a land where Liberty⁠ Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,⁠ But opportunity is real, and life is free,⁠ Equality is in the air we breathe.⁠ ⁠ (There's never been equality for me,⁠ Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")⁠ ⁠ —Above and pictured, excerpts from "Let America be America Again," by poet Langston Hughes (via @poetryfoundation)⁠ ⁠ African-American poet and writer Langston Hughes was one of the foremost figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes lived and worked on the top floor of the rowhouse at 20 East 127th Street (pictured) from 1947 to 1967, the last 20 years of his life.⁠ ⁠ Later referred to as the "Poet Laureate of Harlem," Hughes' work explored Black life and culture. Though private about his personal life, he is generally believed to have been gay and included homosexual subtext in his writing. In the book "I Am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities" (1986), acclaimed author Audre Lorde writes, "When you read the words of Langston Hughes you are reading the words of a Black gay man." #nyclgbtsites #langstonhughes #america #july4th #independenceday